Small Grants Pool

The New York Foundation will have a limited amount of funding for small grants. Only current grantees are eligible. Small grants can be made anytime during the year and should be requested on an as-needed basis to cover unanticipated costs. Given the limited resources in this pool, we will not be able to make more than one small grant to an organization in 2016.

What will the small grants cover?

Organizational Development

Grants to hire consultants to assist with fundraising, media and communications, special event planning, technology assistance, community mapping, board development, and other organizational infrastructure projects.

Organizations have used these grants to:

Work with a consultant to plan a gala fundraising event.

For website development and technology consultation.

Hire a development consultant to assist with prospect research, grant writing and fundraising strategy.

Community Organizing

Grants to attend organizing trainings and conferences, cover the costs of expenses related to direct action activities, meetings and travel, and support for leadership and membership development and community organizing coaching opportunities.

Organizations have used community organizing grants to:

Hire members as organizing apprentices.

Map communities to plan local actions and recruit organizations in targeted neighborhoods.

Rent buses to take members to rally in Albany.

Attend an organizing training program that builds strategic and leadership skills among its staff and members.

Expenses incurred prior to approval will not be eligible for reimbursement.

A written report and fiscal accounting of the funds will be due to the Foundation upon completion of the work. Completed reports can be mailed or emailed to reports@nyf.org. The final report form will be included with the grant contract and can also be downloaded.

Can the New York Foundation recommend resources or make referrals to providers?

For resources to aid in the process of choosing a consultant, visit our Website which includes a list of services, helpful websites, and other resources. We do not endorse particular consultants. In order to encourage grantees to be referral sources to one another, we will ask consultants to share client lists so that grantees can communicate directly with one another about the quality of assistance provided.

Is there a limit to how much I can ask for?

Grants range from $250 to $5000. The following is a breakdown of the grant limits for specific requests:

Incidental expenses of organizing. This includes, but is not limited to, transportation for low-income people to attend meetings; child care costs; rental of meeting space; refreshments. Up to $500 per year.

National travel to conferences. Staff, volunteers, or members from any one organization, one trip per organization per year. Up to $1000 per person with a maximum of $2000 per travel request per grant year.

Retreats for cross-issue reflection and joint strategizing for 2 or more organizations. These groups can apply for the expenses of a retreat at a not-for-profit or other low-cost facility. Up to $2000 per retreat – per grant year. Only one of the organizations applying for the grant has to be a current grantee.